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Which pet to have in an apartment
Almost any pet can live in an apartment if you choose carefully. Before deciding, answer these questions about your building, your time and your budget.
Before you choose
- Read your building's rules or your lease: some limit pets or their size.
- Think about noise: your neighbors are close, and some pets are noisier than others.
- Count your real free time: walks, play, cleaning and company.
- Make a budget: food, vet, emergencies and who looks after it when you travel.
Options to consider
A cat usually adapts well to living indoors. A dog can also live in an apartment, especially if you have time to take it out several times a day; its energy matters more than its size.
Rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, fish and small birds take little space, but each has its own needs: ask a vet who treats that species before deciding.
How to decide
- 1. Meet it first. Visit shelters or adoption fairs: they tell you what each animal is like and whether it fits your home.
- 2. Talk with the people you live with. Make sure everyone agrees and knows who will do what.
- 3. Check that it's legal. Some wild or exotic species need a permit, and some can't be bought.
- 4. Get your home ready before it arrives. Windows, balconies and cables: nothing should be a hazard from day one.
Frequently asked questions
- What pet is best for a small apartment?
- It depends more on your time and routine than on square meters. A cat or a small pet is usually easier, but a dog can live well too if you take it out often.
- Can my building ban pets?
- Condominium rules or your lease can set conditions. Read them before bringing a pet home.
- Is it better to adopt or buy?
- Adopting lets you meet the animal first and gives a home to one that needs it. Shelters help you pick one that fits your apartment.
Related guides
- How to adopt a dog or a cat in Mexico CityWhere to adopt a dog or cat in Mexico City, the usual requirements and how to take an adopted dog to the US.
- Which pets are legal in Mexico?NewWhich pets need no paperwork in Mexico, which need a Semarnat permit and which you can't have.
- Cost of owning a hamster in MexicoNewThe expenses of having a hamster in Mexico: getting started, every month and the unexpected.
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